Ossian – OSS CD 120; 43
minutes; 2001

A much awaited re-release CD of Hamilton's debut solo
recording, first available in 1990 as a cassette, this is more than a mere
reissue. The CD includes six brand new tracks, which brings the total to a
generous eighteen tracks for this new version of the album.

It's such a pleasure to rediscover Hammy's wonderful playing
and hear it at "centre stage"--I felt that it didn't get quite the
exposure it deserved on the recently released CD It's No Secret,
recorded with Séamus Creagh and Con Ó Drisceoil. From the original tape, there
are some tremendous duets with fiddle player Connie O'Connell and with fellow
flute player Paul McGrattan, as well as the two great jigs, The Woodcock
and The Kerfunten, which Hammy composed and which are now universally
played.

Amongst the new material, on which I find Tom Stephens'
otherwise excellent guitar accompaniments a bit too high in the mix, are a
couple of sets of ‘Northern’ polkas originally recorded by John McKenna and
James Morrison, the classic reels The Skylark and Roaring Mary,
the simple but effective Pigtown and Anything for John Joe, and
the lovely air An Buachaill Caol Dubh. A welcome re-release indeed.

This review by Philippe Varlet was
originally written for hisCeltic Grooves Newsletterand appears here by kind permission of the author.